Hussain’s ring was recovered from the scene after the victim grabbed hold of it following the robbery of a woman on September 28 in Croydon.

It was forensically tested and DNA from the item matched Hussain, which led to him being arrested and charged on December .

Alexander was arrested on 11 December then released under investigation.

Officers continued to piece together mobile telephone evidence, CCTV footage and witness accounts linking both Hussain and Alexander to the crimes.

Alexander was subsequently re-arrested on 31 January and charged.

Hussain was further charged with additional offences.

Detective Inspector Steve Brownlee, from the Met’s Operation Venice Investigation Team, said: “This was a protracted and robust investigation which has seen two more prolific offenders convicted of a series of violent crimes.”

Barrister Nicholas Cooper, prosecuting on behalf of the Crown, said: “These offenders attacked vulnerable people - often women – and left their victims afraid to be in the neighbourhoods they had lived in for years. They hunted people down and made a sport of it.